#TripBlog: From Inverell to Hay. Hey? Yes, that isn't funny!

We left our home away from home, cabin number 17 at the Inverell Caravan Park, after a sleep-in and headed for one of NSW’s best kept secrets, Kwiambal National Park.

The park is a nice 80km drive through the tiny town of Ashford before heading through cattle properties and bushland to stunning gorges, giving way to the McIntyre River. The drizzling rain and chilly morning did not stop us from taking a dip at such an amazing spot. The water was deeper than we had ever seen it here. The ferocity of the waterfall was such it had created a natural bubble bath full of foam and swirling water. We just had to take care not to get too carried away by being literally carried away over the next waterfall. 

-To see photos on a map where they were taken (click here)

For a more serene swim, the river is more sedate on the banks of the Lemon Tree Flat camping ground a few minutes drive away. As usual, we had the place to ourselves. There were still piles of wood though ready for any campers. This is a really, pretty spot to stay, with lots of kangaroos roaming around the grounds and a sandy bank leading to the river a few hundred metres away. It also has its own bat caves to explore nearby, which are quite extensive. 

We headed off toward Moree in search of hot spas. Hot artesian spas are the best thing Moree has to offer the traveller. The town itself is a fairly untidy town that looks like it grew without any planning. Tourism in the town appears to have also taken a hit. But for value for money it is pretty good. We stayed for in an ensuite cabin in a holiday park for $60 with access to its own hot spas. If you pick a chilly night like we did, it makes for the best time to soak in the 39C spa.

After another hot soak the next morning we took off toward Dubbo, across the western plains. It is a pretty drive and lots of trucks to pass. One of the most picturesque towns we passed through was Coonabarabran, which we can’t pronounce. We had a picnic lunch at Dubbo before pushing on south-west toward Mildura, stopping at Hay for the night. We found a neat ensuite cabin at the Big 4 caravan park at Hay for $70 (toilet but no shower, though full ensuite cabins available).The scenery on the drive to Hay is mostly grassy plains verging on semi-arid terrain.